White O'Morn Cottage

Introducing ...the kitchen! ....and the Nualas are in the house!

I don't know it you have ever noticed but I have never put up a picture of the cottage kitchen  - and for good reason too!

It was a bit of a mess, storeroom, workroom and unusable as a kitchen or for dining. But this weekend it was the setting for the inaugaral dinner!

My two lovely friends, Ruby and Nuala came to stay for the weekend and this motivated me to sort out the kitchen for once and for all. Here is the table set for our special dinner. I used the lovely Willow Pattern dishes I have collected for years. Ruby and Nuala cooked and I set the table and we had a fabulous meal and finished it off with a bit of line dancing in the living room!

Vintage Irish Table Linen Gifts

 

 

There is nothing I love more than old Irish table linens. So when I got a call from my friend Cecil saying he had a bag of table linens that had belonged to his mother I knew I was in for a treat. This is only part of what was in it. (Cecil is the man who made me the lovely wooden items in an earlier post.) 

A Battenburg tray cloth

Hand crocheted doilies and tatted tray cloths

close up of same delicate beauties

This beauty has tiny shamrocks on. I'll be outlining them in emerald green for someone I know.

 

Adorable homemade baby pillowcase with skipping teddies embroidery. In pink and blue (must have been done before baby  was born!)                                                                         

A set of hand appliqued napkins with the tinyiest hand stitches I have ever seen. I have used macro setting as it was so neat I thought it was machined but...no...all hand done

  

And some hand painted traycloths. Most unusual.                     

       

...And this one is my favourite...  brand new French made waffle design vintage guest towel and the lilac/mauve colour is perfiect for the bathroom!                                                            

 Thank you Cecil. I love them and will put them to good use in  White O'Morn and share some with Angie in the Old Schoolhouse. Angie and I are the only people I know who actually use tray cloths...and it looks like I have hit the motherlode of tray cloths!

Lacy Teacup Treasure Gift from Joan ....and more

It was with mixed feelings that I finished work today (for the summer) in the local library in Baldoyle, Dublin. 

A better bunch of students you couldn't ask for. Ladies... it was a pleasure to work with you and I hope you all sign up for year 2! Imagine -  I actually get paid to have this much fun!

 Thank you for all the lovely gifts. (the  photos are in an earlier post) I have,  and will enjoy each and every one of them...

 

...but I have to give special mention to this antique beauty.

Joan, (I know you check my blog regularly...sure - didn't I teach you everything you know about computing?) - so, knowing I love blue and white china you gave me this beautiful German 1900's teacup and saucer that belonged to your friend's grandmother. Thank you so much...I will treasure it and it will be going on my dresser for visitors to ooh and ahhh over. Just look at the delicate lacy pattern on it! 

It's a bit spooky... but this week seems to be Cup and Saucer week for me!

First, Kimme, of Irish Cottage Dreams (see sidebar) sent me a wonderful (blue & white!) handmade cup yesterday.

Today, Joan gave me this little gem...and Angie my friend in Cork, Ireland e-mails me to say she has some Willow Pattern crockery for me....and then  - just when I am coming to terms with gift overload (is that possible?)... my sister, Angie, The Old Schoolhouse (on sidebar to right) rings me to say she has got me the most beautiful cups and saucers (yes, cups, plural) on her solo thrifting trip. Thank you x 3!

Thrift Shop Treasure

As you know I am always on the hunt for attractive storage for my inventory for the website. When I went into my local St Vincent de Paul last Thursday, I spotted these lovely large wicker trunks. They are lined with cotton fabric and look so much better than the gray plastic ones I was using. At only 10 Euro each (approx 14 dollars or 7 sterling) they were a steal!  I added hanging labels to each one with details of what is stored in it.

Then I picked up this beautiful hatbox with great vintage Paris/fleamarket/ dress shop graphics. It now stores my pretty vintage linen doilies and tray cloths waiting to be listed and....

...it also doubles as a prop for my photos of frilly lingerie for listing on the website.

Shopping Trip Show and Tell

Yes, I have been shopping. It's not easy but someone has to do it. My husband hates it so I get to do his quota too!

I went looking for some stylish storage boxes for my vintage lingerie inventory for my website: Silver Screen Vintage.

At the moment I have them stored in ugly gray plastic boxes that I hate the look of...soooo - look at the beautiful hat boxes and small steamer trunk style box I found for them. They have amazing graphics on them (see close ups shown here) and are so lovely to look at I can store them in the conservatory.

The trunk box holds all my vintage nylon slips and the other three store the gorgeous pin up panties and bloomers and vintage hats. The link to site is on my sidebar if you want to have a browse.

Wendy at Crickleberry Cottage Creations & Collectibles                  Etsy (ctb003) sent me a wonderful sugar shaker stuffed full of buttons, brads, bits and bobs! ...and she threw in sweet little extras. I love them Wendy! Thanks so much. I will even make cute pink nests from the packing straw. Be sure to visit her on Etsy.com as she has the most wonderful things!

Then, this morning I got to pop into my local St Vincent de Paul thrift shop/charity shop and found this cheerful set of cottage stationery for only €4 (four Euro) about $6. It conists of an address book, a day book, 10 cards & envelopes. So my shopping addiction is sated for another few...(days!)

Teeda's Hand Crafted Swarovski Jewellery

  Lucky me! I have a very talented sis, Teeda, who makes the most wonderful handmade jewellery. First three pictures show the aurora borealis necklace and bracelet set she made me for last Christmas.

In the next pic I am  

In the next pic I am wearing another Swarovski beauty she made me for my birthday. I am also wearing some of my own collection of vintage jewellery, the earrings are Napier and the amythist and silver plated brooch was picked up at my local thrift shop. Next are the close ups of the ones I am wearing in photo. What I love about vintage stuff you are never going to come across anyone wearing the same item.

She also made me this beautiful turqoise necklace. Teeda is coming home soon and has told me she has a sparkling hat pin for me! I will post photo here soon.

Here is another silver and glittering deep blue stone pendant made by Teeda

One of the things I love about these treasures is that each one is unique. She also uses fabulous "fixings" clasps and catches.

What a wonderful talent to have! What a wonderful sister to have! Her blog Beadiva is on my list of favourite blogs on the right.

Frogs are hoppin' mad in Leitrim!

Don't tell anyone - but my husband, Paul, loves frogs. I know, I know, it's  not exactly rock n' roll but hey! ...each to his own. Here are some of the frogs that share our world. I must admit I think they are cute!

Bell Book & Candle

I kept going back to this photo of a pretty little vignette I have on the cottage mantlepiece and thinking..."something's missing....." Then it clicked!  A bell of course.

I will add a little Wedgewood bone china bell that I have tucked away somewhere and then I can call it "Bell, Book and Candle"

Update: I found the little bell. The design is called Runnymeade. It was missing its clanger so I threaded a pink satin ribbon and hung a tiny gilt ballerina pin and it makes a lovely musical tinkle as she dances now!

The Quiet Man Film 1952

The Quiet Man starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. This has long been my favourite film. I know the dialogue off by haert  and quote it often! I dreamed for many years of owning a little house just like the one in this film. When I did finally get one I had to call it "White O'Morn"

It has the very same layout as the one in the film and I have set about decorating it as closely as possible and added an emerald green half door.

I have an original book called Green Rushes by Maurice Walsh and this is the book that the screenplay was adapted from. Also in my collection is the Guide to the Quiet Man that examines the film in detail. My sister bought me a tin advertisement poster and of course, I have a copy of it on dvd.

I visited Cong, in County Galway (or is it Mayo?) to visit the locations. Some of these have not changed in all these years. Pat Cohan's is now a pub just like in the film and Rev. Playfair's gingerbread house is still the same.

If you want a good night in with a great old film I can recommend this one. Treat yourself for St Patrick's Day!